Summer is always an exciting time to get styling and re-think interiors with fresh colours, fabrics and furniture (even if the weather here is DIRE). Exciting then, to be a guest at this year’s Spirit of Summer Fair in London and gain access to some of the freshest products and home decor ideas currently hitting the home and interiors market.

The HOUSE fair compliments the carefully curated furnishings, homewares and amazing accessories at the annual Spirit of Summer event. Bringing together prestigious and relatively new brands, there are over 400 exhibitors offering innovative product and pieces for styling your home (and like an excitable child at a museum, you can fiddle with all the exhibits, without getting told off – result!)

There was so much to see, it is definitely a whole day out. There were many highlights but I absolutely loved the Anna Jacobs stand…whats not to like?

Anna Jacobs – amazing colour and print

The inaugural HOUSE Fair took place last year alongside Spirit of Summer Fair and returned to Olympia London this year, in association with House & Garden magazine.

So why visit? Well, at this Ah-mazing event you can buy furniture, view bathrooms & kitchens, see new floor & wall coverings, view large garden pieces and so much more. Plus, the best bit is the opportunity meet with the makers and experts in the field of interior and garden design. You can sign up for one-on-one consultations and useful advice. Styling inspiration is at every corner. Also you can enjoy free informative talks in the HOUSE Theatre (I lucked out and got a spot the Louis Roderer champagne talk….which was actually very informative and fascinating.. not to mention bloody delicious, hic)

As London’s only event dedicated to providing inspiration and ideas for every room in your house, I think this is a great opportunity to stockpile some inspiration to try at home or if you’re in the industry, for commercial projects you are working on and meet some small but brilliant designers, artists and makers who are more than happy to share their process’ and their work. Innovation is also a key theme, so much was brand new to the market or soon to be launched, which gave a real buzz to the event.

Statement lighting in murano glass from Rainbow London

I had a lovely chat with Kelly from Urban Organic Art, who aside from some incredible contemporary abstract oil paintings, also specialise in the most beautiful textiles for the home… fell in love with a great deal of their stuff *didn’t buy anything sadly, though Mr Styleophile will never believe me* The blankets in particular were in such good patterns and colours and after all the greys and whites, I predict the ochre and bright blue combo will be around a lot next season.

SOFT beyond your wildest dreams….Colour and comfort

My visit was as a guest of Decology, an incredibly talented company who offer bespoke interiors whatever your budget, delivered to your inbox ! Decology is an online platform providing a tailor-made interior design services to home and business owners across the UK. You get in touch and complete some simple questions and a brief and they connect you with their talented pool of professional interior designers and styling gurus.

Decology at HOUSE fair 2016

Sharon Costi and Michele Triegaardt are founders of Decology that I met at the fair. Originally from Venezuela and South Africa respectively , they have has spent the last 17 years living across the globe including the UK and USA. Passionate and effervescent, they are consummate creatives. Equally comfortable with solving space planning conundrums as they are designing bespoke furniture, to managing events requiring tailor-made stationery and styling. Oh and setting up ah-mazing companies to bring interiors and collaborative design to all. As you do.

Team Decology

For an affordable flat fee per room, the Decologists will work with your style and budget to transform your space. How smart is that? Reassuringly, every project is backed by their 100% Money Back Guarantee too, meaning if you’re not delighted with your design, they refund your design fee. Win Win. Not surprisingly, the set they had designed for the fair was stunning and genuinely for me, a real highlight of the show (no, I haven’t been paid for this, i really rate them..!) Their use of colour, pattern and texture was right up my street (and a lot of other visitors too judging by the buzz and hype around the stand).

Decology at work

The friendly, chatty welcome that met everyone (not to mention a glass of fizz….rude not to) was so genuine and their design skills are readily apparent too. Every detail of the stand was gorgeous; rugs and seating, vintage and contemporary, pastels and brights, succulents and floral blooms. Classic and eclectic elements all hanging out together in a top-end designer meets chillout-zone mash-up.

Peonies and pops of colourI will take both of these please…

Not just for the house and garden-obsessed, this event excels in its variety. So much more than just interiors, there are heaps of incredible jewellers,florists, fashionistas, foodies, cool-kids clobber and all manner of amazing artizans and designers ready to chat and share their techniques and samples. Coffee shops to rest up in and food samples on every corner. There was an incredible selection, meaning the House fair really does have something for everyone (you could come as a group and have a great day).

Its extra fun if you make one of the (free) Summer Living Workshops; from dining to decorations, creating your own floral arrangements with one of London’s top florists, tasting some of the world’s most decadent Champagnes or discovering new summer recipe ideas. Clearly not the worst way to spend a day and certainly one the rain cant spoil.